Tool organizer for hand tools

ABSTRACT

A tool organizer for placing on a structure and supporting a variety of handheld tools and other small objects. The organizer has a flat body with a central opening to fit over the supporting structure. A plurality of tool receiving openings and/or cutouts is formed in the body to accommodate and retain variously sized and shaped tool suspended on the tool body. The tool body may be supported on a conventional open top container, such as evacuation fluid drum, or can be attached to a free standing upright structure mounted on rollers to facilitate moving of the tool organizer upon demand. The tool organizer is particularly useful for retaining pliers, wrenches and other similar hand-held tools thereon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of my co-pending application Ser. No. 09/879,622 filed on Jun. 13, 2001 for “Tool Organizer,” the full disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to workshop equipment, and more particularly to a device for retaining handheld tools in an easily accessible manner.

[0003] Mechanics and home repair people use a multitude of tools during routine car maintenance. For instance, during an oil change, a mechanic may need to have easy access to wrenches, pliers, grease guns, and other similar tools to complete the job. Many people use toolboxes for carrying the tools around the job site; these boxes are placed in an easily reachable place. Other people simply scatter the tools around a workshop so that they can pick up the tools as needed.

[0004] Conventionally, the user selects several tools that he/she knows will be needed for the job and places them nearby, sometimes on the ground next to the automobile being repaired or worked on. In many instances, however, especially with jobs involving repairs and maintenance of different model cars, the precise type of tool needed is difficult to anticipate. Still, it is of a convenience to the user to have these tools available in an organized manner next to the job location, such as repair garage or workshop.

[0005] The present invention contemplates provisions of a tool organizer that can be particularly useful in automobile repair and maintenance shops. It is conventional to use an oil drum for collection of used oil. The existing oil drain buckets usually have a top lid with an opening, into which an oil drain conduit is inserted. A funnel may be connected to the free end of the hose to collect evacuated oil from engines, crankcases, transmissions, and differentials.

[0006] Sometimes, a strainer is included into the drain bowl to strain off fluids that may be evacuated and prevent their entrance into the oil collection drum. The drain tube is usually secured in the center opening with wrenches or other similar mechanisms. The drum lid or cover can be outwardly convex, partially convex, straight, and can have secondary openings to accommodate drain holes for emptying the drum into a larger collection container.

[0007] The present invention contemplates provision of a tool organizer that can be used with different types of evacuation oil drums and buckets while retaining handheld tools in a location easily accessible by a mechanic. The present invention further contemplates provision of an independent tool organizer for hand-held tools that may be rolled around a workshop, as needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a tool organizer specifically adapted for retaining handheld tools in a workshop.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool organizer that can be used by mechanics and other individuals engaged in the maintenance of cars and other vehicles.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tool organizer that can be positioned on a lid of a conventional oil evacuation drum and be retained there in a secure, easily detachable manner.

[0011] It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a free standing tool organizer mounted on wheels for easy moving around a workshop.

[0012] These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a tool organizer that has a flat tool body provided with a plurality of openings and slots for retaining various hand tools and objects in an organized manner. The body has dimensions greater than a corresponding structure, such a lid of an oil evacuation drum.

[0013] A central opening formed in the body allows the body to fit over conduit connections on the lid of an oil evacuation drum. A cutout next to the central opening or a secondary opening adjacent the central opening allows accommodating secondary drain hoses secured to the container lid.

[0014] The body may be provided with openings and cutouts along the rim of the body and a distance inwardly from the outer circumferential edge to accommodate different types of tools, such as pliers, wrenches, and the like.

[0015] The body may be mounted and secured to an upright free standing support and rolled on wheels secured to the bottom plate of the support. In this embodiment of the invention, the main flat body is secured on an upright post, a lower portion of which is detachably or fixedly attached to a bottom tray. Rollers, or wheels are secured to a bottom surface of the bottom tray to facilitate moving of the tool organizer upon demand.

[0016] The bottom tray is provided with an upwardly extending peripheral lip to prevent cans, or bottles positioned on the bottom tray from falling out when the tool organizer is moved. One or more separating walls are formed on a top surface of the bottom tray. The separating walls divide the bottom tray into several independent compartments to hold different types of containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designed by like numerals, and wherein

[0018]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the tool organizer in accordance with the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the tool organizer of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the tool organizer of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the tool organizer of the present invention

[0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the tool organizer is a free standing upright structure.

[0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tool organizer main body as placed on a conventional evacuation oil drum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the tool organizer in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The tool organizer 10 has a flat main body 12 with a central opening 14. The body 12 has a top surface 16 defined by a circumferential edge 18.

[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of cutouts are formed in the edge 18 spaced about the circumference of the edge and sized to accommodate different types of hand tools. For instance, cutout 20 is sized to retain a hand-held grease gun or similar size tool. The cutouts 22 are sized to accommodate swivel type oil filter wrenches; cutouts 24 are sized and shaped to retain pliers-type oil filter wrenches; and cutouts 26 are sized and shaped to retain combination wrenches.

[0026] Of course other tools may be secured within the slots, or cutouts 20, 22, 24, and 26, so long as these tools have similar physical dimensions to fit into the provided slots. Depending on the demands of the job, the slots, or cutouts 20-26 can support American, as well as metric calibrated tools.

[0027] A secondary cutout 15 is formed in the body 10 adjacent the central opening 14. The secondary cutout 15 communicates with the opening 14. The cutout 15 allows the tool organizer 10 to accommodate a drain hose, if provided on the drum lid. The size of the opening 14 is large enough to fit snugly around the partially outwardly convex portion of the drum lid.

[0028] A plurality of smaller opening 28 is formed around the central opening 14. The openings 28 are sized to receive bolts or screws for securing the main body 10 on the lid of an oil evacuation drum.

[0029] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the main tool organizer body is designated by numeral 30. Similarly to the body 12, the main body 30 is provided with a plurality of cutouts, or slots 32 formed in a peripheral edge 34 of the body 30. Each slot 32 has an outer portion 36, which is directed radially towards the central opening 38 of the body 30 and an inner portion 40, which extends at an angle to the outer portion 36.

[0030] The cutouts 32 are adapted to accommodate combination wrenches or similar tools. The user positions the wrenches by pushing them first into the outer portion 36 and then moving them into the angularly oriented inner portion 40. In this manner, the hand tools are more securely engaged with the tool organizer and are prevented from falling out.

[0031] A plurality of variously-shaped and sized openings are formed in the body 30 a distance away from the peripheral edge 34. Some of the openings, such as openings 42 are designed to accommodate and retain swivel-type oil filter wrenches, or similar tools. Openings 44 may be formed in one or more rows; these openings are sized and shaped to retain pliers-type oil filter wrenches or similar tools. A larger round opening 46 is designed to accommodate a handle of a grease gun, or similarly-sized tool.

[0032] Similarly to the body 12, the body 30 is provided with a secondary cutout 39, which communicates with the central opening 38 to receive the drain hose. Also, a plurality of openings 48 allows securing of the body 30 on top of a fluid evacuation drum with the help of bolts, or screws.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the main body of the tool organizer of the present invention is designated by numeral 50. Similarly to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 50 is provided with a central opening to allow positioning of the body 50 on a standard fluid evacuation drum. A secondary cutout 53 is similar in function to the cutouts 15 and 39. The small openings 54 are similar in design and function to the openings 28 and 48.

[0034] Unlike the bodies 12 and 30, the main body 50 does not have peripheral cutouts. Instead, the body 50 is provided with one or more rows of through openings spaced adjacent the peripheral edge 56 of the body 50. A larger round opening 58 is designed to accommodate a handle of a grease gun; smaller round openings 60 retain pliers type oil filter wrenches; openings 62 accommodate a variety of hand-held tools, such as combination wrenches, hammers, etc.; and openings 64 may be used to accommodate swivel type oil filter wrenches and the like.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, the openings 60 may be spaced in one or more rows, one closer to the peripheral edge 56, and another—closer to the central opening 60. Depending on a particular type of job to be performed, the openings may be spaced in any desired configuration about the body 50.

[0036]FIG. 4 illustrates still another embodiment of the tool organizer of the present invention, which is adapted for being supported by a conventional collection drum. In this embodiment, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the body 66 of the tool organizer is provided with a central opening 68, a secondary cutout 69 in communication with the central opening 68 to accommodate a drain hose, and a plurality of small openings 70 spaced around the opening 68.

[0037] The tool-receiving openings are spaced around the circumference of the body 66, along the edge 72. In this embodiment, the tool-receiving openings are spaced in one row. One of the openings, opening 74, may be used to retain a grease gun; openings 76 may be used for retaining swivel type oil filter wrenches, and openings 78 may be used to retain combination wrenches and the like.

[0038] The tool-receiving openings and slots formed in the bodies of the tool organizers leave a large top surface area of the main body free from obstructions and apertures. This area may be used for placing small tools, bolts, nails, rags and other irregular items in close proximity to the user.

[0039]FIG. 6 illustrates an example of how a tool organizer body may be mounted on a conventional oil evacuation drum 80. Of course, the drum 80 can be a drum adapted to collect evacuated oil, transmission fluid, and other changeable liquids. As shown in the drawing, the oil drum 80 is provided with a top lid 82 that carries a primary oil evacuation conduit 84 with a funnel 86. The tool organizer body 50 is placed over the lid 82 before the funnel 86 is connected with the tube 84 to rest on top of the lid 82 and to extend outwardly from the periphery of the lid 82.

[0040] As will be appreciated, FIG. 6 illustrates the tool organizer body 50 positioned on the drum 80. However, any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 may be positioned on the drum 80 and secured thereon for holding the tools in close proximity to an operator.

[0041]FIG. 5 illustrates a free standing tool organizer of the present invention. The tool organizer 90 comprises a main body 92 mounted on an upright support 94. The support 94 is hollow with an open bottom end 96. The end 96 is mounted over an upwardly extending pin 95 attached to a center of a bottom tray 98. The bottom tray 98 carries a plurality of rollers 100 secured to a bottom surface thereof to allow for easy moving of the tool organizer 90 around a workshop of job site.

[0042] The main body 92 may be of a design of any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4. It may be provided with a plurality of various size and shape openings 104, or with cutouts, or any combination of cutouts and openings, as desired. If desired, the body 92 may be detachably secured on the upright post 94. The post 94 is detachably secured on the pin 95, allowing to store and transport the tool organizer 90 in a limited space. If desired, the post 94 may be fixedly attached to the tray 98, making the tool organizer 90 a single structure.

[0043] The tray 98 is provided with one or more dividing walls 106 that extend from a top surface 108 of the tray 98 upwardly, separating the tray 98 into a number of compartments. Cans and other types of containers may be placed on the tray 98 and be separated by the dividing walls 106. The tray 98 is provided with an upwardly extending lip 110 that helps retain the items that may slide on the surface 108 from falling out of the tray 98.

[0044] Some conventional evacuation oil drums are provided with lids that have a peripheral flat portion and an outwardly convex center portion. The evacuation tubes and other conduit connections are usually attached to the lid. The openings 14, 38, 52 and 68 are designed to fit over the lid portion that has a partially outwardly convex lid fitted with an evacuation tube. The size and shape of the openings 14, 38, 52 and 68 can be easily modified depending on the type of drum with which the tool organizers of the present invention will work.

[0045] Generally, no attachment means are necessary for the tool organizer pin to stay in place on top of the drum lid 82. However, in some instances, especially when particularly heavy or bulky tools must be used for the job, the body of the tool organizer may become unbalanced and shift its position in relation to the drum 80.

[0046] To prevent disengagement or misalignment of the main body in relation to the drum 80, the several attachment screws may be provided. The attachment screws engage the outer rim of the drum 80 and ensure that any possible imbalance of the tool organizer body does not lead to overturning of the tool organizer. The openings 28, 48, 54 and 70 are adapted to receive four such attachment screws, which can be as simple as sheet metal screws, inserted through the body to keep the tool organizer in place. The use of the securing screws is optional.

[0047] The top surface of the main body being flat, offers additional surface for storing rags, screws, and other small items that are used during the job. The body of the tool organizer can be constructed from fiberglass, wood, and other materials that are not easily breakable and can withstand the physical stresses associated with suspension of numerous tools from the main body.

[0048] The tool organizer of the present invention can be easily modified to accommodate various types of containers and lids. The tool organizer can be easily disengaged or detached from the lid and placed on another oil evacuation drum. It is envisioned that the tool organizer of the present invention be made from a number of non-corrosive materials that can be cleaned, if desired, of grease that will tend to accumulate on its surface. The size of the tool organizer can be easily adapted to accommodate the size of the lid and the peripheral dimensions of the drum.

[0049] The tool organizer can be placed on other structures, pedestals, etc. to allow suspension of a variety of small tools and objects therefrom. It is envisioned that the central opening made in the organizer body may be used for centering the body on the structure with the help of a peg, rod or bolt, if desired.

[0050] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A tool organizer, comprising: a generally flat body having a central opening therein, said body being provided with a plurality of openings for holding a variety of objects suspendable on said body and extendable through said openings.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein a cutout is formed in said tool body adjacent said central opening for accommodating a part of a structure, on which said body is detachably positioned.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said body is provided with a plurality of cutouts formed in a circumferential edge of said body for receiving at least portions of objects suspended on said body.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said openings are formed a distance from a peripheral edge of said body.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said openings are formed in one or more rows in said body, and wherein said openings have various shapes and sizes to accommodate differently sized and shaped objects.
 6. The device of claim 2, wherein said body is configured for detachable positioning over an open top container, said central opening communicating with an interior of said container.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said body is adapted for secure attachment to an upright support member, a top surface of said body being extending transversely to a vertical axis of said upright member.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an upright support fixedly attached to said main body, a bottom tray supporting a lower end of said upright support, and a plurality of rollers secured on a bottom of said bottom tray to facilitating moving of said tool organizer upon demand.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said bottom tray has an upwardly extending lip extending about an outer peripheral edge of said bottom tray.
 10. The device of claim 8, wherein said bottom tray is provided with at least separating wall extending from a top surface thereof, said at least one separating wall dividing said bottom tray into a plurality of compartments.
 11. An organizer for hand-held tools suitable for positioning on a lid of a container, said tool organizer comprising: a generally flat body having a central opening therein to accommodate a primary conduit secured to a lid of the container, said body having a plurality of openings formed in said body to accommodate various objects suspendable on said body.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said body is provided with a secondary opening communicating with the central opening for accommodating a secondary conduit secured on said lid.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein said body has a peripheral edge, said edge extending outwardly from an outer periphery of said lid.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein said openings comprise cutouts formed about the peripheral edge of said body.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein said openings comprise through openings formed a distance from the peripheral edge of said body.
 16. An organizer for hand-held tools, comprising: a generally flat body having a plurality of openings formed in said body; an upright support for engaging a bottom surface of said body and retaining said body in a generally horizontal orientation; a bottom tray for engaging a lower end of said upright support and retaining said support in an upright position; and a plurality of rollers secured to a bottom surface of the bottom tray to allow moving of said tool organizer upon demand.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said bottom tray is provided with an upwardly extending peripheral lip to facilitate stabilizing position of an objects positioned on said bottom tray.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said bottom tray is provided with at least one dividing wall extending upwardly from an upper surface of said bottom tray, said dividing wall separating the tray into a plurality of independent compartments.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said openings comprise cutouts formed about a peripheral edge of said body.
 20. The device of claim 16, wherein said openings comprise through openings formed a distance from a peripheral edge of said body. 